Support assembly for holding a videoscope on a robotic surgical system

Abstract

An assembly for holding a videoscope on a robotic surgical device is disclosed, which includes a holder body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, a cradle provided on the proximal end portion of the holder body for supporting a videoscope, a first locking mechanism operatively associated with the cradle for temporarily securing the videoscope in the cradle, a connector provided on the distal end portion of the holder body for attaching the holder body to the robotic surgical device, and a second locking mechanism operatively associated with the connector for temporarily securing the holder body to the robotic surgical device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A support assembly for holding a videoscope on a robotic surgical device, comprising:
 a) a holder body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;   b) a cradle provided on the proximal end portion of the holder body for supporting a videoscope;   c) a first locking mechanism operatively associated with the cradle for temporarily securing the videoscope in the cradle;   d) a connector provided on the distal end portion of the holder body for attaching the holder body to the robotic surgical device; and   e) a second locking mechanism operatively associated with the connector for temporarily securing the holder body to the robotic surgical device.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the cradle on the proximal end portion of the holder body includes a first engagement feature adapted to receive a complementary engagement feature on the videoscope. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the connector on the distal end portion of the holder body includes a second engagement feature adapted for reception in a complementary engagement feature on the robotic surgical device. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the first engagement feature is an engagement channel formed in the cradle of the holder body and the complementary engagement feature on the videoscope is an elongated engagement flange for engaging the engagement channel in the cradle. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the second engagement feature is an elongated engagement flange on the distal end portion of the holder body and the complementary engagement feature on the robotic surgical device is an engagement channel formed in a connective bracket for receiving the engagement flange of the holder body. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the first locking mechanism includes a cantilevered locking lever. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the first locking mechanism further includes a retention clasp on the cantilevered locking lever for releasably engaging a capture slot in the engagement flange on the videoscope. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the second locking mechanism includes a spring-loaded locking slider. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the second locking mechanism further includes a retention tang on the spring-loaded locking slider for releasably engaging a retention groove in the connector of the robotic surgical device. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the second locking mechanism further includes a pair of elongated spaced apart retention pins on the spring-loaded locking slider for releasably engaging a pair of corresponding spaced apart retention ports in a proximal end of the robotic surgical device adjacent the connective bracket. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a hand rest operatively associated with the distal end portion of the holder body for supporting a user's hand. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the holder body defines a longitudinal axis and the hand rest extends in an axial direction relative to the distal end portion of the holder body and is mounted for pivotal movement between a first position retracted within an internal cavity of the holder body and a second position extending outwardly from the internal cavity of the holder body. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a retention clasp provided on the hand rest for engaging a retention slot in a side wall of the holder body to retain the hand rest in the second position. 
     
     
         14 . A method for holding a videoscope on a robotic surgical device, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a holder body having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion;   b) temporarily securing the distal end portion of the holder body to the robotic surgical device; and   c) temporarily securing the videoscope on the proximal end portion of the holder body.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of temporarily securing the distal end portion of the holder body to the robotic device includes mating an engagement flange on the distal end portion of the holder body with a complementary engagement channel on the robotic surgical device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of temporarily securing the distal end portion of the holder body to the robotic device further includes activating a first locking mechanism that prevents inadvertent disengagement of the engagement flange on the distal end portion of the holder body and the complementary engagement channel on the robotic surgical device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of temporarily securing the videoscope on the proximal end portion of the holder body includes mating an engagement flange on the videoscope with a complementary engagement channel on the proximal end portion of the holder body. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of temporarily securing the videoscope on the proximal end portion of the holder body further includes activating a second locking mechanism that prevents inadvertent disengagement of the engagement flange on the videoscope and the complementary engagement channel on the proximal end portion of the holder body. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising the step of moving a hand rest from a first position retracted within an internal cavity of the holder body to a second position extending outwardly from the internal cavity of the holder body. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the step of securing the hand rest in the second position by engaging a retention clasp on the hand rest in a retention slot formed in the holder body.